The Estancia Apartment Homes on Old Redwood Hwy. were completely destroyed on Oct. 9, 2017 in Santa Rosa, Calif.

The Estancia Apartment Homes on Old Redwood Hwy. were completely destroyed on Oct. 9, 2017 in Santa Rosa, Calif.

Photo: Brian Van Der Brug/LA Times Via Getty Images

Image 12 of 48

The K-Mart in Santa Rosa before it was destroyed in the Tubbs Fire in October, 2017.

The K-Mart in Santa Rosa before it was destroyed in the Tubbs Fire in October, 2017.

Photo: Google Maps

Image 13 of 48

A man walks past the front of a Kmart store destroyed by a fire in Santa Rosa.

A man walks past the front of a Kmart store destroyed by a fire in Santa Rosa.

Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

Image 14 of 48

Rubble lines the interior of a K-mart store scorched by the Tubbs fire in Santa Rosa.

Rubble lines the interior of a K-mart store scorched by the Tubbs fire in Santa Rosa.

Photo: Noah Berger, Special To The Chronicle

Image 15 of 48

Image 16 of 48

Schmidt Firearms store in Santa Rosa, Calif. is seen via Google Maps Street View, as of June 2016.

Schmidt Firearms store in Santa Rosa, Calif. is seen via Google Maps Street View, as of June 2016.

Photo: Google Maps

Image 17 of 48

Schmidt Firearms store at 808 Piner Road near Bincentennial Way in Santa Rosa burns Monday morning after wildfires spread to the area. The store is part of a larger complex that includes a furniture store and warehouse. less

Schmidt Firearms store at 808 Piner Road near Bincentennial Way in Santa Rosa burns Monday morning after wildfires spread to the area. The store is part of a larger complex that includes a furniture store and ... more

Image 18 of 48

Satellite images show the Coffey Park neighborhood in Santa Rosa before a wildfire whipped through the region.

Satellite images show the Coffey Park neighborhood in Santa Rosa before a wildfire whipped through the region.

Keith Norris shows what his car destroyed in the fire looked like before the fire, in Santa Rosa, Ca., on Monday October 9, 2017. Massive wildfires ripped through Napa and Sonoma counties early Monday, destroying hundreds of homes and businesses. less

Keith Norris shows what his car destroyed in the fire looked like before the fire, in Santa Rosa, Ca., on Monday October 9, 2017. Massive wildfires ripped through Napa and Sonoma counties early Monday, ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 22 of 48

A Google street view image shows Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa before the Wine Country fires damaged the property.

A Google street view image shows Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa before the Wine Country fires damaged the property.

Photo: Google / /

Image 23 of 48

Cardinal Newman High School is seen after some of the school burned during the Tubbs fire in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Cardinal Newman High School is seen after some of the school burned during the Tubbs fire in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle

Image 24 of 48

A view of the Signorello Vineyard's winery building in Napa, Calif.

A view of the Signorello Vineyard's winery building in Napa, Calif.

Photo: Courtesy Signorello Estate

Image 25 of 48

Image 26 of 48

Flames consume a main building at the Signorello Vineyards in Napa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Flames consume a main building at the Signorello Vineyards in Napa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Photo: Noah Berger, Special To The Chronicle

Image 27 of 48

The Signorello Estate winery burns in the Napa wine region in California on October 9, 2017, as multiple wind-driven fires continue to whip through the region. / AFP PHOTO / JOSH EDELSONJOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images less

The Signorello Estate winery burns in the Napa wine region in California on October 9, 2017, as multiple wind-driven fires continue to whip through the region. / AFP PHOTO / JOSH EDELSONJOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty ... more

Photo: JOSH EDELSON, AFP/Getty Images

Image 28 of 48

The entrance to the fire-ravaged Signorello Estate winery is seen Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, in Napa, Calif.

The entrance to the fire-ravaged Signorello Estate winery is seen Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, in Napa, Calif.

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP

Image 29 of 48

The Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel is seen in Santa Rosa, Calif. via Google Maps Street View, April 2015.

The Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel is seen in Santa Rosa, Calif. via Google Maps Street View, April 2015.

Photo: Google Maps

Image 30 of 48

Image 31 of 48

Flames work their way through the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel in Santa Rosa, Calif. and is one of several businesses in Wine Country that were affected by the devastating fires.

Flames work their way through the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel in Santa Rosa, Calif. and is one of several businesses in Wine Country that were affected by the devastating fires.

Photo: San Francisco Chronicle

Image 32 of 48

Rudy Habibe, from Puerto Rico, and his service dog Maximus walk toward a burning building at the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel, where he was a guest, in Santa Rosa, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Wildfires whipped by powerful winds swept through Northern California sending residents on a headlong flight to safety through smoke and flames as homes burned. less

Rudy Habibe, from Puerto Rico, and his service dog Maximus walk toward a burning building at the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel, where he was a guest, in Santa Rosa, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Wildfires ... more

Photo: Jeff Chiu, AP

Image 33 of 48

The sun shines above behind a burning building at the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel in Santa Rosa, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Wildfires whipped by powerful winds swept through Northern California sending residents on a headlong flight to safety through smoke and flames as homes burned. less

The smoldering remains of Hilton Sonoma Wine Country are seen in Santa Rosa, Calif. Monday, October 9, 2017.

The smoldering remains of Hilton Sonoma Wine Country are seen in Santa Rosa, Calif. Monday, October 9, 2017.

Photo: Mason Trinca, Special To The Chronicle

Image 35 of 48

Image 36 of 48

One of the few walls still standing after the a fast moving wind whipped wildfire roared through the Hilton Hotel burning it to the ground, Santa Rosa, Calif. on Oct. 9, 2017.

One of the few walls still standing after the a fast moving wind whipped wildfire roared through the Hilton Hotel burning it to the ground, Santa Rosa, Calif. on Oct. 9, 2017.

Photo: Peter DaSilva, Special To The Chronicle

Image 37 of 48

Smoldering fires are seen in the remains of the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017.

Smoldering fires are seen in the remains of the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017.

Photo: Elijah Nouvelage, Special To The Chronicle

Image 38 of 48

A view of the entrance to Journey's End mobile home park in Santa Rosa, Calif., as seen via Google Maps Street View, Jan. 2017.

A view of the entrance to Journey's End mobile home park in Santa Rosa, Calif., as seen via Google Maps Street View, Jan. 2017.

Photo: Google Maps

Image 39 of 48

The remnants of several mobile homes can be seen from the outside of Journey's End mobile home park in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Monday.

The remnants of several mobile homes can be seen from the outside of Journey's End mobile home park in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Monday.

Photo: San Francisco Chronicle

Image 40 of 48

Image 41 of 48

A fire tears through parts of the Journey's End mobile home park on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

A fire tears through parts of the Journey's End mobile home park on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle

Image 42 of 48

A laundromat inside the Journey's End mobile home park burns during the Tubbs fire on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

A laundromat inside the Journey's End mobile home park burns during the Tubbs fire on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle

Image 43 of 48

A view of Journey's End mobile home after the Tubbs fire tore through the property on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

A view of Journey's End mobile home after the Tubbs fire tore through the property on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle

Image 44 of 48

Homes are seen burnt to the ground after a fire tore through the Journey's End mobile home park on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Homes are seen burnt to the ground after a fire tore through the Journey's End mobile home park on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle

Image 45 of 48

Image 46 of 48

Chairs and an umbrella are seen charred and melted beside the pool at Journey's End mobile home after the Tubbs fire tore through the property on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Chairs and an umbrella are seen charred and melted beside the pool at Journey's End mobile home after the Tubbs fire tore through the property on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle

Image 47 of 48

Cleanup of fire debris in a Santa Rosa neighborhood and other North Bay communities was halted after a Florida company challenged contracts for the work.

Cleanup of fire debris in a Santa Rosa neighborhood and other North Bay communities was halted after a Florida company challenged contracts for the work.

Photo: Elijah Nouvelage, Special To The Chronicle

Image 48 of 48

North Bay fire cleanup resumes after state steps in

1 / 48

Back to Gallery

Cleanup crews are rolling into four fire-scorched Northern California counties again after the state approved a new agreement for debris removal, sidestepping a dispute that had property owners worried about how quickly they could begin rebuilding.

Debris removal was halted last week in Napa, Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties when AshBritt Inc., a Florida company that unsuccessfully bid for the work, filed a challenge against two contractors hired for the job.

AshBritt argued to the federal Government Accountability Office that the firms might not be able to meet deadlines laid out in the contracts for clearing residential and commercial properties that were destroyed in the October fires. But state officials authorized a new agreement that will allow the work to go forward while the protests against those companies — ECC International Constructors of Burlingame and Ceres Environmental Services of Minnesota — are sorted out.

Officials say the state will be reimbursed for the work done under the new contract with just ECC. Originally, ECC won a $174 million deal from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to clear lots in Sonoma County, and Ceres was awarded $26 million to do the same in the three other counties.

“California is focused on removing the hazardous fire debris from these counties to expedite the recovery process for survivors and their communities,” Mark Ghilarducci, director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, said Monday.

More than 1 million tons of debris already have been removed from counties affected by October’s wildfires. But there is still much to be done: In some neighborhoods, like Santa Rosa’s Coffey Park, numerous chimneys tower above rubble-covered lots.

More than 8,000 homes were destroyed in Napa, Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties during the fires. Officials hope to have their lots cleared by the beginning of March, when construction season typically begins.

ALSO

“This was the largest cleanup in history, certainly in California and maybe the nation,” said Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt. “It’s a massive undertaking, and one that needs to continue moving forward. Our goal is to get in and out before springtime, so people can get on with their lives. The sooner that happens, the better.”

AshBritt representatives did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment.

Nancy Allen, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which awarded the cleanup contracts, said the state’s decision cleared the way for work to resume. Already, ECC International Constructors has crews in the field.

“People are anxious to get their properties clean and get on with rebuilding,” said company Vice President August Ochabauer. “People just want to rebuild their community.”

Allison Spitzer, who lives in Coffey Park, said a short delay wasn’t a bother. All that matters to her is getting her lot cleared by spring so she can start rebuilding the home where she and her family lived.

“I tease my husband that we’ll be the last one to be cleared at this rate,” said Spitzer, 41, who works as a commercial lender at a bank. “As long as I keep pushing forward and they have cleaned my lot by the time I’m ready to build, you won’t see frustration from me. We will see what the spring brings.”